There are nearly 2 billion Muslim people. They live all over the world and follow the religion of Islam. Now is a special time for Muslims. It’s the holy month of Ramadan! The night of April 1 marked the start of this important event.
During Ramadan, Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset. That means they don’t eat or drink all day. When the sun goes down, they can eat again.
For many followers, the month is about more than just not eating. “It’s a time of , patience, and gratefulness,” said Mohamad Moughnyeh. Moughnyeh told News-O-Matic that giving up food helps people to “remember to be thankful for what you have.”
Ramadan starts at different times around the world. That’s because it begins whenever officials spot the crescent moon in the sky. That may even happen on different days. Experts use a special telescope to spot the thin crescent.
Once Ramadan begins, most Muslims follow a similar schedule. They wake up before sunrise to have their first meal of the day. Muslims call that meal suhoor. Once the sun sets, they end their fast with a meal called iftar. Most Muslims break their fast with water and dates. But after that, Muslims around the world make different dinners.
Many of their meals show where they are from. For example, Sümeyra Türkmen lives in Turkey. “Our typical starter is lentil soup and fresh Turkish bread,” Türkmen said. She added: “The smell of the soup and the bread gives me the feelings of Ramadan!”
Moughnyeh’s family is from Lebanon. “We do either fatoosh or tabooli,” he explained. Fatoosh and tabooli are salads common in many Middle Eastern countries.
Some families even try foods from other cultures. “I break my fast with dates and water, followed by Moroccan soup,” said Abdiya Meddings. Meddings is from the United Kingdom but said her family loves the soup because “it’s so nutritious and filling.”
Ramadan will continue until about May 1. Then, many Muslims will celebrate an important holiday called Eid al-Fitr. People give gifts, pray, and have a big feast during Eid.
Until then, Muslims will continue to fast and reflect. Moughnyeh said his hope for this month is to “be a better person.”
Updated April 1, 2022, 5:02 P.M. (ET)
By Sufia Alam
